USRE22903E - Artificial leg - Google Patents

Description

G. A. HINKLE ARTIFIciAL LEG Aug. 5, 1947.

:s Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 1, 1942 INVENTOR. 6 13% 4592 Aug. 5, 1947.

G. A. HINKLE ARTIFICIAL LEG Original Filed Aug. 1, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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Aug. 5, 1947. G. A. HINKLE ARTIFICIAL LEG Original Filed Aug. 1, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 'INV EN! OR. 690/ 16 19. wk/P19 Arron/v5) Reissued Aug. 5, 1947 UNITED STATE S PATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIAL LEG Original No. 2,327,042, dated August 17, 1943, Serial No. 453,163, August 1, 1942. Application for reissue August 12, 1944, Serial No. 549,231

17 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an automatic knee lock and adjustable length for an artificial leg.

More particularly, the invention proposes to characterize the new artificial leg by the fact that it has a stump engaging thigh portion and a. leg member pivotally connected with the thigh portion. A novel arrangement is proposed whereby it is possible for the user of the leg to place his weight on it when moving forwards without any danger of the leg collapsing, and a further arrangement whereby the leg automatically bends when it is moved forwards. With this construction the necessity of swinging a. still leg sidewise to move it to a front position has been avoided.

Still further the invention contemplates a pendulum actuated means for controlling a bolt which automatically locks the leg when required.

An arrangement is also proposed whereby when any weight is placed on said thigh .member and leg member they automatically become locked against bending.

It is an object of a modification of this invention to construct an artificial leg characterized by a stump engaging thigh member and a leg member having their adjacent ends overlapped and pivotally connected together and provided with a means concentric with the pivot point for locking the members together in a manner to carry the wearer's weight when stepping forward with the other leg.

Another object of this invention proposes the provision of a pivotally mounted pendulum arranged in a manner to control the locking and unlocking of the leg members as the person walks.

Still another object of this invention proposes the construction of a device which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is an illustration of a man provided with an artificial leg constructed according to this invention.

p 2 Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the artificial leg.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating the parts in a. difierent position.

Fig. 6 is another view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating the parts in still another condition.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the pendulum per se.

Fig. 8 is an illustration of a man provided with an artificial leg constructed in accordance with a modification of this invention.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevational view of the leg shown in Fig. 8.

Fig, 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line Ill-ill of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line llll of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but illustrating the parts in a different position.

Fig. 13 is another view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating the parts in still another condition.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the top portion of the pendulum per se.

Fig. 15 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 9, but illustrating a further modification of the invention.

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line |BIG of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a. sectional view similar to Fig. 11, but illustrating a still further modification of the invention.

Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line [8-48 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a perspective detail view of some of the parts shown in Figs. 17 and 18.

The artificial leg, in accordance with this invention, includes a stump engagin thigh member l0 having a hollow II in its bottom end. A leg member I! is associated with the thigh member 15 is mounted within the hollow l3 of the leg member I2 and is pivotally and slidably connected with the pintle It.

More particularly, the adjustable support !5 is formed from two sections, a top section l6 and a bottom section I'I. Each of these sections have their adjacent ends overlapping and formed with slots I8 through which wing clamp screws I9 engage for locking the sections in adjusted positions. The screws I9 are accessible through a door I2 formed in the side of leg member I2. The bottom section I1 is provided with a flange 29 by which it is mounted upon the base of the hollow I3. Fastening members 2I engage through the flange and into the leg member I21 for connecting these parts; I

The top section I6 is formed with a slot 22 through which the pintle I4 passes. means is provided for urging the thigh member: Ill and leg member I2 apart. This resilient means comprises several strong springs 23 actingbe- Resilient 4 ber I2 and so maintain the engagement of the notch 40 with the bolt 29.

When the artificial leg reaches a vertical position the parts are still engaged, as illustrated in Fig. 4. However, when the artificial leg starts to assume a rearwardly extended position the cam 36 will reach a position in which the bolt 29 will be lowered. However, the thigh member ID will then move down correspondingly, as long as there is any weight on the artificial leg and the bolt 29-?will either maintain, its engagement with the notch: II) or' 'engage an'adj'acent serrat-i-on 26 of the keeper 25. Thus the artificial leg will not bend -'while there is any weight on it.

tween the top sections I6 oi the support I5; and

bushings 24 which are pivotally mounted on the pintleI4. v

The leg member I2 may be constructed by using: a persons good leg for a mold. It-i's proposed that first an auxiliary mold of rubber be made from. the good leg, and then the artificial member I2 may be properly formed from the rubber mold.

A keeper 25- is adjustably mounted within the bottom of the thigh member ID and hasan-arcuate serrated bottom 25. This keeper" 25' is substantially of U -shape with its arms straddling the pintle I4 and one of the bushings 24; One of the arms of the keeper 25 is formed with anelongated slot 26 by which it is engaged-with a'clamp screw 21 mounted on one wall of the thigh member Ill. The other wall of the thigh member is provided with an opening 28" by which the clamp screw 21 may be manipulated when the keeper 25 is adjusted. r

A look member 29 in the formof abolt is slidably mounted within the hollow I3 of the leg member I2 and is engageable with the keeper-'25 by engaging the serrated bottom 25. This bolt 29 is resiliently-urged into a retracted position-by a, spring 30. A bracket 31' slidably supports the-bolt 29. This bracket is mounted upon the wetllfo'fthe leg member I2. The bolt 29' is provided with a flange 32 which limits downward motion thereof. The spring 30 acts between the bracketfliil andv a flange 33 formedon the bolt 29. A pendulum 34" is pivotally supported by a p-intl'e 35. This pendu: lum has a cam head 36 cooperative with the bot-' tom of the bolt 29 for urging the bolt to engage the serrated bottom 26 whenthe artificial legv is in a straight condition and directed forwards. The pendulum 34' has a tubular bottom'31 which is weighted with. shot 38. The keeper 25'Iis n50 formed with a large notch 40' which is engageable by the bolt 29 when the thigli'memberilfi and leg member I2 are in astrafight line'with each other.

The operation of the device may bebestunderstood by first examining'Fig. 1 and noting-that the artificial leg is now forward with the thigh member I0 and leg member I2 thereof in a. straight line with each'other. In this condition of the leg, the parts are as shown in Fig. 6. The pendulum 34 is in a position in which the cam 36 has the bolt 29 extended into-the notch 40 of the keeper 25.

After the artificial leg has reached a backwardly extending position, the position in which the -good l'eg isin as illustrated in Fig. 1, the person will s'hi' ft his-weight to the forwardly extending good leg and now the artificial leg must be moved: to the front. At this instant when the weight'istaken' on the artificial leg the bolt 29 will: disengagefromthe serrations or the notch The thigh memben I0 and leg member I2 are therefore latched against pivoting.

and there will be a tendency of thelthighmember Ifi to move downward relative to the leg mem- 40, and now the artificial leg may bend as it is moved forwards, eliminating the necessity of dragging a stiff leg forwards. When the artificial leg reaches its ruuyforward extended position'the parts will be in the position as previously described relative to Figs. 1 and 6.

The artificial leg; according to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 8' to 14, includes a stump engaging thigh member 59 having a-hollow bottom end 51. -A leg member 52 having a hollow topend-B? has its top end connected to the bottom endof the stump engaging member 59'. More specifically; the bottom end of the stump-engaging member is set into thetop end of the leg member 52' so that the adjacent ends of these mem-ber's'bverlap one another. A pintle 54 is engaged across the overlapping portions of the members-HFand 5 2* and; serves to pivotally connect these memberstogether.

An elongated member 55 has one of its ends concentrically engaged freely upon the pintle 54. Thefreeend of the elongatedmember 55 is extended dcwriward-S into the hollow of the leg membe 52', This end is fixedl secured to one wall of the hollow 53 by several screwstfii The topierrd of the elongated member- 55" is formed with a' keeper openin'g 51 adjacent the pintle 54.

- side of the disc'58' adjacent the side of the elongated member 55 formed with the keeper. opening SLis formed with a plurality of peripheral serrations 6'02,

A pendulum 61' is provided for simultaneously engaging. the serrations E9 and, the keeper open- 51' for locking the members 50' and 52 against pivoting; .The pendulum G-l is'ch-aracteriz edby apendulum arm 62' which isIpiv-otally mounted intermediate of its ends upon the stump engaging member 50 by means of a screw 63.. The bottom end. of the pendulum arm 621's extended into the hollow 53 of the leg. member 52 and is: provided witha large weight- 621'. The top-endof the arm 62 is. bent towards the d'isc EB and the top end of th'e'elongiatedmember 5'5 and is enlarged. One side 65 'ofthe top end of the arm 62 is aligned with the serrations Iillflo'f the" disc- 58, while-the other side of the top. end. of the arm 62 is formed with 5a projection 6G for engaging the keeper gpe'lggng 51 in the top end of the elongated mem 1 er The operation of this form of the invention is as follows:

This operation may be best understood by first examining Fig. 8, wherein it will be noted that the artificial leg is now formed with the stump engaging member 50 and th leg member 52 in end alignment with each other. This condition of the parts is illustrated in the sectional view Fig. 12. The weight 64 of the pendulum 6| has the pendulum arm 62 in a position in which the top end of the arm 62 is engaging both the keeper opening 51 and the serrations 60 for locking the leg members 50 and 52 against pivoting. The wearer may now shift his weight to the artificial leg and move hi body and good leg forward.

When the artificial leg reaches a vertical position the leg members 50 and 52 will still be in their locked position as shown in Fig. 11.

When the artificial leg has reached a backward extended position, the position in which the good leg is in Fig. 8, the person will shift his weight to the forwardly extending good leg and now the artificial leg must be moved to the front. At this instant the weight 64 will pivot the pendulum arm 62 to assume the position shown in Fig. 13, causing the top end of the arm 62 to be disengaged from the keeper opening *5! and serrations Eil. This disengagement will free the members 50 and 52 and now the leg member 52 may bend relative to the stump engaging member 50 as shown in Fig. 13, permitting the artificial leg to be moved directly forwards without the necessity of dragging the stiff leg forwards.

In Figs. 15 and 16 another modified form of the invention is shown which distinguishes from the prior form in several respects. In this form of the invention there are two elongated members 55 which are attached with fastening elements 55 upon the inner sides of the hollow 53 of the leg member 52. A pintle 54 passes through the stump engaging member 55 and the leg member 52 and the elongated members 55 for pivotally connecting the stump engaging member 50 and the leg member 42. Moreover, the disc 58 is attached upon the outer face of the stump engaging member 5a and extends into the hollow 53 of the leg member 52. The pendulum 61' is pivotally supported by a pintle 63 and is located within the hollow 53 and outside of the stump engaging member 56. Expressed difierently, one of the elongated members 55, the disc 58 and the pendulum 6! are disposed in a space between the adjacent faces of the stump engaging member 55 and leg member 52.

The said latter elongated member 55 is formed with the notch 51 which is engaged by the projection 56 of the pendulum similar to the construction and operation described relative to the prior form of the invention.

In Figs. 17-19 another modified form of the invention is disclosed in which the elongated members 55 are attached upon the sides of the hollow 53 of the leg member 52. These elongated members 55 extend upward against the outside faces of the stump engaging member 58 and are pivotally connected therewith by the pintles 54'. An arcuate plate Til with serrations 50' is attached by the use of fastening elements H upon the bottom of the stump engaging member 50. A hook T3 is pivotally mounted by a pintle H on a bracket mounted within and upon one wall of the hollow 53 of the leg member- 52. This hook 73 is provided with a tooth 12 which engages the serrations 60'. The hook 13 has a tail projection 15 which is engaged by an adjustable member I55 adjustably mounted upon the pendulum 6!". More specifically, the pendulum 6| is pivotally supported by a pintle 63 which is mounted across the hollow 53. The pendulum 6|" has a rod 62" which supports the weight 54. The top of the rod 62" is formed with an elongated slot through which the holding screw 16 passes. This holding screw engages the adjustable member 66'.

The operation of this form of the invention is as follows:

When the leg is in a forwardly inclined position the pendulum 5|" depends and is located in a position in which the upper end 65 engages the tail projection 15 so that the tooth 12 engages the serrations 60. The body may now be moved forwards and the stump engaging member and the leg member 52 will be rigidly locked together. When the body reaches a position in which the artificial leg is disposed rearwardly, this position may be selected by a proper adjustment of the member 66', the pendulum 6| is iny a position in which the member 65' is free from the tail '15 so that the hook 13 moves downwards and the tooth 12 moves free of the serrations 50'. The artificial leg may now be bent and moved to its forward position. While it i being bent and moved forwards the leg ember 52 will always be inclined rearwardly, and'for this reason the pendulum 6|" will not re-engage the tooth 12 with the serrations When the artificial leg is well to the front it is kicked straight, so that now the leg member 52 i extended forwardly and is substantially in a straight line with the stump engaging member 50. Then the pendulum 6|" re-engages the tooth 12 with the serration 6G, looking the parts together.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: i

1. In an automatic knee lock, an adjustable length for an artificial leg, a stump engaging thigh member, having a hollow bottom end, a leg member having a hollow top end and set on to the bottom of said thigh member, a pintle mounted across the hollow of said thigh member, an adjustable support mounted within the hollow of said leg member and pivotally and slidably connected with said pintle, resilient means urging thigh member and leg member apart, a keeper adjustably mounted within the bottom of said thigh member and having an arcuate serrated bottom, a bolt slidably mounted on said leg member and engageable with said keeper by engaging said serrated bottom, a pendulum mounted within said leg member and having a cam for urgin said bolt to engage said serrated bottom when said leg is in a straight condition and directed forwards, and said resilient means bein adapted to give when weight is placed on said leg so that said serrated bottom engages said bolt for locking said thigh and leg member from pivoting.

2. In an automatic knee lock, an adjustable length for an artificial leg, a stump engaging thigh member, having a hollow bottom end, a leg member having a hollow top end and set on to the bottom of said thigh member, a pintle mounted across the hollow of said thigh member, an adjustable support mounted within the hollow of said leg,- member and pivotally and-:slidablvg Q9117:

nected. with said p ntle, resilient means; ur in thigh memberrand legrmember apart; akeeper-ad I justably mounted ,withinthe bottom of said-thigh; member and having an;-arcuate:serrated pbottoms. a. bolt slidably. mounted .on said leg member amt engageable withsaidrkeeper by: engaging sai;d;ser.:-- rated bottom, apendulum mounted-within said: leg member and havingacamfor urging said: bolt to engage said serrated bottom when saidlegiiszini a straight condition and: direct.ed-'forwards;.iand

said. resilientmeans being adapted to gives-when; weight is placedorr. said leg. so. that saidsserrated; bottom. engages, said-bolt for locking; saidzthiglr. and leg member from. pivoting, saictada'usta-ble; supportcomprising a pairof adjacent; support. sections with slots and clamp. screws engaged. through said. slots. for holding them .in selected;

fixed positions.

3. In an automatic knee lock, anadjustable: length for; an artificial leg, a. stump. engaging. thigh member, havinga hollow. bottom. end; a leg:

member having a; hollow top'end and setzon tothe bottom. of. said. thigh. member, a pintlemounts.

ed across the hollow of said thigh ,Inember; .an. adjustable support mounted within the hollow of said leg member and .pivotally. and slidably.con.-.

nected with. saidpintle, resilient means. urging.

thigh member and legmember apart, a. keeperadjustabl mounted within the bottom of saidthigh member and having an arcuate serrated bottom, a bolt slidably mounted on said legmeme ber and engageable'withsaid: keeper by engaging.

said serrated bottom, a pendulum mounted: with. in said-leg member and having a cam forurging:

said bolt to engage said serrated. bottom when said leg is in a straight condition-and directed-forwards, and said resilient meansbeing adapted to give when weight is placed on said legsothat said serrated bottom engagessaid bolt for-locking said thigh and leg member from pivoting, said adjustable support being provided with a slot through which said pintle passes and comprising saidslidable connection or the'support and pintle.

thigh-member, having a'hollow-bottom end, a leg member having-a hollow top end and set onto" thebottom ofsaid thighmember, a-pintle mount-- ed acrossthe hollow-ot-said thigh member, an ad iustabiesupport mounted within the hollow-of said leg member and pivotallyand slidably con nected with- -said pintle, resilient means urging" thigh member and"1egmember apart," a keeper" adjustably mounted within-the bottom of said thigh member-andhaving an al enate-serrated" bottom, abolt'slidablyimounted on-said legme-m her and engageable -withsaid keeperby engaging-= saidserrated. bottom, a pendulum: mounted within: saidleg member-and having-a cam for urging said bolt to. engagesaid serrated: bottom when. said leg is.inrastraightcondition and-directed fo-rwards, and said resilient mean being adapted to give. when; weight. is. plaeedgon. said leg. so.1that.. said serrated bottom; engagessaid boltfor locking 1 said; thigh and leg; member from. pivoting, said resilient means comprising springs acting be-' tween said supportzand. pintle.

5,. In. arr automatic: knee. lock, an adjustable length, for an; artificial. leg, .at stump engaging.

thigh member, havinga, hollowbottom: end,-. a leg member having ahollow top-.endiand:setzontoithe. bottom of said thigh memben. a. pintle. mounted across the hollow of said thigh member,: anxadia justable-supp ort mounted within the hollow of 4. In an automatic kneelock; an adjustable-4 length for an artificial leg, a stumpengaging Said: le i' members and-'pivotally and. slida-bly con-- nected with said pintle, resilient means: urging thigh rriembenand. le member; ap.art-, a keeper adinstably' mounted Within: the. bottom of. said,

thighgmember 'andhaving' an arouateserratedi bottom; agboltrsli-dably mounted on; said leg memben andzengageableswith said keeper by engaging; said: serraztedpbottom; a pendulum. mounted with-.

in saidi legimemberrand. having a cam. for urgingsaid' bolt-"to; engage. said serrated bot-tom when. saidzlg-is a straight condition: and directed forwards,:and said-resilient meansbeing adapted. to:give whenv weight isplaced' on said leg so that. said? serrated; bottom. engages. said boltfor locking said? thighLand' leg member from pivoting, said; keeper beingprovided with a slot, and a fastening screwengaged through said slot by which said keeper may be adjusted.

6; In an automatic knee lock, an adjustable length-for anartificial leg; a. stump engaging thigh member, having ahollow'bottcm end, a leg member havingiahollow top end and set on to the bottom of said thigh member, a pintle mounted across the hollow of said thigh member, an adjustable support mounted with the hollow of said leg member and pivotally and slidably con nected with saidpintle,. resilient meansturg-ing. thigh member and leg member apart, a keeper adjustably mounted Within: the bottom'of saidthi'gl'i member and having an arcuate serrated bottom, ab'olt slidably mounted on said leg mem berand engageable with said keeper by engaging said serrated bottom, aipendulum-mounted within: sai'd leg member and having acam for urgingasa-id boltto engage said-serrated bottom when: said leg isina straight condition anddirected"forwards,- andsaid resilient means being adapted to'give when weight is placed on said leg SQ-th'atsaidserrated: bottom engages said. bolt across-th'e'hollow of said thigh member, an ad justable support mounted with-inthe hollow of said' leg memberand pivotally and slidably con-- nectediwith said pintle, resilient means urgingthigh member and leg member apart, a=- keeper adjustably mounted within the bottom of said" thigh member'and having anarcuateserrated bottom;- a bolt-slidably mounted on said-leg-memben and: engageablewithsaidkeeper by engaging i said serratedb'ottom, a pendulum mounted' wit-hin said leg member and-havinga cam forurgingsaid bolt to engagesaidserrated bottom when said legis-in: a straight condition and directed:for-

wards; and said resilient meansbeing adaptedto givewhen weight is placed on said leg so-that said 'serrated-bottom: engages said-bolt for look ing said- -thighandleg zmember from pivoting, said pendulum 'having a bottom tubular portionloaded with shot:

83'. An automatic kneelock, comprising a stump engaging thigh member-having a hollow bottom end, a Ieg member having a hollow top end and set onto and overlapping the bottom end' of said" thigh member; a pintleextendedacross said overlapping portions pivotally connectingsaid mem= bers together, anelongated member having-one end concentrically-engaging saidpintle andits other end attached to said leg member and formed with a keeper opening adjacent said pintle, a disc concentrically engaging said pintle and secured to said thigh member and formed with serrations, and a pendulum mounted on said stump member and having a bolt for simultaneously engaging said keeper opening and serrations when said leg is in a straight condition for locking said members against pivoting.

9. An automatic knee lock, comprising a stump engaging thigh member having a hollow bottom end, a leg member having a hollow top end and set onto and overlapping the bottom end of said thigh member, a pintle extended across said overlapping portions pivotally connecting said members together, an elongated member having one end concentrically engaging said pintle and its other end attached to said leg member and formed with a keeper opening adjacent said pintle, a disc concentrically engaging said pintle and secured to said thigh member and formed with serrations, and a pendulum mounted on said stump member and having a bolt for simultaneously engaging said keeper opening and serrations when said le is in a straight condition for locking said members against pivoting, said pendulum comprising a pendulum arm mounted intermediate of its ends upon said stump engaging member, and a weight mounted on the bottom end of said arm.

10. An automatic knee lock, comprising a stump engaging thigh member having a hollow bottom end, a leg member having a hollow top end and set onto and overlapping the bottom end of said thigh member, a pintle extended across said overlapping portions pivotally connecting said members together, an elongated member having one end concentrically engaging said pintle and its other end attached to said leg member and formed with a keeper opening adjacent said pintle, a disc concentrically engaging said pintle and secured to said thigh member and formed with serrations, and a pendulum mounted on said stump member and having a bolt for simultaneously engaging said keeper opening and serrations when said leg is in a straight condition for locking said members against pivoting, said pendulum comprising a pendulum arm mounted intermediate of its ends upon said stump engaging member, and a weight mounted on the bottom end of said arm, said bolt being formed on the top end of said arm.

11. An automatic knee lock, comprising a stump engaging thigh member, a leg member having a hollow top end receiving an overlapping bottom end of said thigh member, strips pivotally connecting said leg member and thigh member, ascrrated plate attached to the bottom portion of the thigh member, a hook pivotall attached at one of its ends on said leg member, said hook ineluding a tooth and at its other end having a downward projection adapted to cam said tooth position into engagement with the said serration member, and a pendulum for controlling said camming action.

12. An automatic knee lock, comprising a stump engaging thigh member, a leg member having a hollow top end receiving an overlapping bottom end of said thigh member, strips pivotally connecting the said leg member and thigh member, a serrated plate attached to the bottom position of the thigh member, a. hook pivotally attached at one of its ends on said leg member, said hook including a tooth and at the other end having a downward projection adapted to cam said tooth portion into engagement with 10 the said serration member, and an adjustable pendulum for controlling said camming action, said pendulum being pivotally engaged within the upper portion ofthe leg member, in alignment with the said projection.

13. An artificial leg, comprising a stump engaging thigh member, a leg member having a hollow top end and set onto the bottom end of said thigh member, a pintle pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of said thigh member and leg member, lock means for locking said members fixedly together, and a pendulum pivotally mounted within the hollow top end of said leg member for operating said lock means to lock said members together in the forwardly directed position of said leg.

14. In an artificial limb, a leg member having a hollow top end, a thigh member having a hollow lower end, means pivotally connecting the upp r end of said leg member and the lower end of said thigh member, a lock member fixedly secured to one of said members, a second lock member movably mounted on the other of said members and engageable with said first-mentioned lock member to lock said members fixedly together, a pivot mounted on said other member within the confines of the hollow end of such member, and a gravity operated swinging member movably mounted on said pivot for operating said second look member to lock said leg and thigh members together in the forwardly directed position of said limb.

15. In an artificial limb, a leg member havin a hollow top end, a thigh member having a hollow lower end, means pivotally connecting the upper end of said leg member and the lower end of said thigh member, and means for automatiallc looking said members together comprising a lock member fixedly secured to one of said members adjacent to the latters connection with said other member, a pivot mounted in fixed position on the wall defining the hollow end of said other member and adjacent to such connection of said members, and a pendulum-like member movably mounted on said pivot and including a locking element engageable with said lock member to lock said members together and a gravity operated swinging element fo bringing said locking element into locking engagement with said locking member in the forwardly directed position of said limb.

16. In an artificial limb, a leg member, a thigh member, means pivotally connecting adjacent ends of said leg member and thigh member, a lock member fixedly secured to one of said members, a second lock member movably mounted on the other of said members and engageable with said first-mentioned lock member to lock said members fixedly together, a pivot mounted on said other member, and a pendulum-like member movably mounted on said pivot and including a cam element engageable with said second lock member and a gravity operated swinging element for causing said cam element to move said second lock member into locking engagement with said first-mentioned lock member in the forwardly directly position of said limb.

17. In an artificial limb, a leg member, a thigh member, means pivotally connecting adjacent ends of said leg member and thigh member, a plate fixedly secured to one of said members and having a locking notch extending inwardly from an edge thereof, a latch member movably mounted on the other of said members and engageable with the notch of said plate to lock said mem-

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